OLD COWBOY CHEATS THE HANGMAN

After nearly 80 years in prison, the last twenty-seven of which on death row, Viva Leroy Nash got the last laugh on the Arizona penal system, albeit, at the expense of the neediest cactus state citizens.

The 94 year Nash, known affectionately as the Old Cowboy by his jailers from his growing up when Arizona was still the wild west, died of natural causes even as Arizona prosecutors were appealing a federal ruling that Nash might not be competent enough to assist his appeals process. Just how incompetent? It seems that the Arizona death machine was oblivious to the fact that Nash was mentally ill since the 1940's when he shot a Connecticut policeman. At the time of his death, he was deaf, nearly blind, crippled and suffering from dementia. But what are a few minor personal issues and millions of dollars in legal fees when there is revenge to be extracted by politicians eager to promote their tough-on-crime bona fides?

Unfortunately, the money squandered these past twenty-seven years could have helped alleviate a huge Arizona budget deficit that has ended state sponsored health care for 310,000 low income adults and 47,000 low income children; ended employment for 2,000 state workers, and closed highway rest areas, state parks and motor vehicle offices.

Now that Viva Leroy Nash is gone, Arizona officials only have to waste their citizens' disappearing tax dollars on the endless legal maneuverings of the remaining 128 death row inmates. At the rate Arizona is spending to commit state sponsored homicide, bankruptcy may be their only ticket off death row.

Walt Zlotow
Glen Ellyn, IL

Originally published in Chicago Tribune Online, February 17, 2010
Also published in the Glen Ellyn News, February 24, 2010