Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-09-25
TODAY'S SESSION
DISTRICT COURT
Romero Sanchez Murder Case Taken
Up-lnteresting Story Of Fatal
Love Affair.

Love Affair.
The district court for Santa Fe
County reconvened this morning at 8
O'Clock, Judge John r. McFie presid.
Ing. A. M. Bergere was at his post
as clerk. The Territory is repre-.
sented in the murder trial now before
the court by Attorneys e. A. Fiske,
of this city, j. b. Lusk Of Taos, and
Julius Staab of Albuquerque, while
the attorneys for the defense are
Thomas B. Catron, and Charles G..
Catron of this city.
1t took all day yesterday before a
jury was empaneled in the case of
the Territory VS.. Juan Manuel Rome
70, charged with the murder Of Es-
teyan Sanchez. As stated yesterday
eleven Of the jurors were secured up
to noon but three special venires had
to be issued before the other juror
was accepted. The first extra panel
was of six names, and later two more
of four each were ordered When the
twelfth Juror was finally sworn in 1t
was time for adjournment ana the
trial did not actually begin until this
morning.
Estevan Sanchez was killed at his
home in Penasco early on the morning
of September 49, 1905. He conducted
a general store at the village and
lived in a part of the establishment.
Two weeks prior to his tragic death
he wrote letter proposing marriage
to Miss Josenta Romero, the comely
daughter Of Juan Manuel Romero, OF
Penasco. The young woman for some
reason or other delayed answering
for nearly two weeks, and finally ad-
dressed note to him accepting his
proposal. Meanwhile Sanchez had
come to the conclusion that his suit
was not looked on with favor by the
girl of his choice and he wrote to
her again releasing her from the Of
fer of marriage. By cruel fate 1t
so happened that these two letters
we're written at practically the same
time At o'clock on the morning of
September 10, Romero called at the
home of Sanchez and demanded the
return of the letter written by his
daughter in which she gave her con-
sent. Sanchez was still in bed at
the time and said that he had destroy
ed the note. The conversation that
followed was overheard by Eusebio
Sandoval who had been taken along
as witness by Romero. Romero
then pulled out a revolver and began
shooting at Sanchez He fired three
times and the third shot took effect.
The bullet struck Sanchez in the left
side and ploughed through his body.
He died shortly afterwards. The first
shot missed altogether, and the Sec
ond shot just grazed the skin.
Urbana Ortega, clerk who had
been employed in the store of San
chez, was the first witness called to
the stand in the trial, which was
brought here on change of venue
from Taos County. He testified that
Romero and Sandoval called at the
store at 6 O'Clock on the morning of
the tragedy. He said that he was
sweeping out store when they entered.
Romero asked him If Sanchez was
there and he told him that Sanchez
was not out of bed yet. Sanchez was
then sleeping in a room adjoining
the store and he SO informed Romero.
Romero and Sandoval then went into
the room, and he followed them to
the door. Witness said that he heard
the men talking together. Romero
asked Sanchez to give him the letter
written by his daughter to which San
chez replied that he had destroyed it.
Ortega stated that he heard three
shots fired in rapid succession and
saw Romero leaving with the smoking
revolver in his hand.
Miss Fiaberta Vigil, domestic at
the Sanchez home, was the rext wit
ness. She said that she too heard
the conversation between Romero and
Sanchez She testified that she was
coming from the kitchen when she
heard loud talking and paused to as
certain what was the matter. Sud-
denly a pistol shot was fired followed
quickly by two others. She rushed
into the room and encountered Ro-
nero with revolver In hand. She said
she told Romero not to kill Sanchez.
At this she stated that he pointed the
pistol threateningly at her and in.
quired If she wanted to be killed too.
She said that she told him she did
not want him to kill her or anybody
else. Miss Vigil declared that while
the shooting was taking place Sando.
val was sitting calmly in a chair,
but when Romero made threatening
to her he jumped up and
grabbed Romero by the arm.
Mrs. Petra Smith was the third and
last witness examined this forenoon
and it was noon when the attorneys
had finished, cross examining her. She
was not an actual eye witness to the
shooting and did not know about it
until some time later. She told of
Romero coming to the store of which
her husband is the proprietor and ask
ing If he was in. Her husband was
out at the time, whereupon Romero
left without stating his mission.
Romero returned half an hour later,
she said, and he was carrying a revol.
yer in his hand. She said that he
did not appear to be excited either In
his manner or conversation.
A batch of letters which passed be.
tween Sanchez and Miss Romero
have been introduced as evidence.
The epistles are all written in Span