Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A most poignant letter

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 11:55 a.m.

"ON APRIL 7, 1999, while reading the Richmond Times-Dispatch, I read an article that left me both dumbfounded and angry. It was a short paragraph about Alvaro Calambro's execution on April 5, 1999, for a brutal double murder committed in 1994 during a robbery.

"On March 27, 1980, my father, George Monahan, was murdered by Samuel Howard. In May 1983, Samuel Howard was sentenced to death for this crime. In the 16 years since his conviction, Samuel Howard has had his right to an automatic appeal heard. He has continued to appeal his sentence since 1983. These appeals have not been based on new evidence to determine guilt or innocence, but on technicalities and the conduct of the trial court. No other court has found any error made by the trial court which affected Howard's right to a fair trial. The transcripts of this trial have been reviewed enough times to make one realize that there is nothing there to have this case remanded for a new trial.

"Samuel Howard is either the luckiest man in the world or he has been forgotten. It makes absolutely no sense that a death row inmate is executed five years after his conviction while another death row inmate, in the same prison, has been held for 16 years. As the state of Nevada is well aware, Howard has not been a quiet, model prisoner. I am therefore inclined to believe he is the luckiest man in the world. He is impossible to forget.

"Alvaro Calambro's execution, after a crime that was committed only five years ago, may be the result of Congress' 1996 law limiting the lengthy appeals process for death penalty cases. He had his trial and was convicted. His sentence was automatically appealed, the appeal was denied and his sentence carried out. His execution needs to serve as precedent.

"The time spent to see that Samuel Howard's civil rights are protected is an affront to my family as well as the citizens of Nevada. The time has come for the state of Nevada to concern itself with the civil rights of George Monahan and his survivors."

Sincerely,

Mary Monahan-Nelson

The above letter, dated April 9, 1999, and addressed to our new governor, Kenny Guinn, brings back numerous memories. Some good and some bad. Dr. George Monahan was one of my students and a good friend when teaching at Basic High School more than 40 years ago.

It was in March 1980, that Samuel Howard drifted into Las Vegas and set up the brutal killing of George Monahan. This wasn't Howard's first, nor was it his last, robbery and possible killing of people advertising they had a vehicle for sale.

Here's the history from the Where I Stand column files:

March 1980 -- Late Thursday evening, Brian Greenspun told me they had found George's body in his van behind an establishment on Boulder Highway. Carolyn and my son, Brian, were with me at Tony Trudnich's fights when we received the news.

March 1981 -- A year has passed since Dr. George Monahan was killed in cold blood. Samuel Howard, the suspect in the slaying, ran across the border to California, where he has convinced shrinks that he belongs in a mental institution.

September 1982 -- Why hasn't the suspect been brought before our courts? Because he fled to California, where he robbed a used car salesman and was eventually convicted of that crime in May of this year.

May 1983 -- District Attorney Bob Miller and Metro Police followed Howard in his escapes, capture and legal antics. It was a long struggle, but he was returned to Las Vegas for trial.

On Wednesday, a Las Vegas jury recommended that Samuel Howard be given the death penalty. That followed excellent trial work by prosecutors Mel Harmon and Dan Seaton.

September 1989 -- Six years have passed since prosecutors Mel Harmon and Dan Seaton convinced a Clark County jury that Howard should die for this senseless murder.

November 1990 -- Justice! What's that? Don't ask the parents, brothers and sisters, widow and children of the late Dr. George S. Monahan of Henderson.

They couldn't believe it last week when they learned Monahan's killer, Sam Howard, was awarded $10,000 for an eye he lost in the Nevada state prison in 1988.

December 1990 -- Monahan's brother, Darryl, wrote the governor and other members of the Board of Examiners:

"The decision by the Board of Examiners on election day to award convicted murderer Samuel Howard $10,000 for the loss of an eye rather than challenge the claim in open court was wrong. ...

"Since his murder, his family has survived without any assistance from the state. In order for his family to survive and become productive citizens, I had to sell his dental practice, with no help from the state. I inventoried and sold his personal items, with no help from the state. I sat with my parents and discussed how hard my brother had worked to put himself through college and dental school and the many sacrifices made by them to see that his dream was realized with no help from the state."

It's time again for the Monahan family to receive an update from the state of Nevada. Let's hope that George's grandchildren won't have to make a similar request in coming years.