Dispute over death sentence compelling, educational. (Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)

    If a man's life were not at the core of a legal tug-of-war between New York and Oklahoma, the battle surrounding the fate of convicted murderer Thomas Grasso, 30, might be seen as merely interesting. But because of opposing philosophical views between New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, who opposes the death penalty, and Oklahoma Gov. David Walters, who supports it, for many observers the dispute is compelling. 
    For the past nine months, the two states, which have an extradition agreement, have been exercising legal maneuvers that have kept Grasso's fate in limbo. 
    Grasso first was convicted in New York for the murder of Leslie Holtz, 81. He lived across the hall from her in a boardinghouse. He was sentenced to life in prison. Then he was sent to Oklahoma under an outstanding…