July 8, 1999
Web posted at: 9:26 p.m. EDT (0126 GMT)

Provides grounds for stay of execution for next condemned man

In this story: 'Got what he deserved' Chair's troubled history Next condemned man wins postponement RELATED STORIES, SITES

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Florida officials are defending their new electric chair after blood gushed from the first man put to death in the device Thursday.

The execution of convicted murderer Allen "Tiny" Davis took place early Thursday morning at Florida's Starke Prison.

"There was blood all over his shirt and in the center of his chest and pouring out the side of his mouth," said witness Ron Word. "It appeared just after the power was turned on."

But the Florida Department of Corrections said that was not true, saying no witness actually saw the prisoner's face, which was covered by a veil.

"According to doctors who examined him and pronounced him dead, this was caused by a nosebleed," said C.J. Drake, a department spokesman who also witnessed the execution.

Drake said a 7-inch wide star- or cross-shaped bloodstain could be seen on Davis' white shirt. He also said blood oozed through the holes of a strap around Davis' chest holding him in the chair.

The department official said nosebleeds are not uncommon. And Davis, a 344 pound man suffering from hypertension and arthritis, was taking heavy doses of aspirin and Motrin -- both blood thinners.

'Got what he deserved'

Lawyers for Davis had tried to stop the execution on the grounds that the voltage wouldn't be enough to humanely kill a man of his size.

After the execution, Davis lawyer Marty McClain said a chart of the voltage showed that the current used fell short of the 2,300 volts necessary to put someone to death humanely.

"The electric chair functioned as it was designed to function today," said Cory Tilley, a spokesman for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Davis was convicted and sentenced to death 17 years ago for the murder of Nancy Weiler, who was three months pregnant, and her 5- and 3-year-old daughters at their home in Jacksonville.

The husband and father of the three victims sat directly across from Davis during the execution.

"His crime was so heinous, animal-like and brutal that he deserves no less than the execution carried out today," John Weiler said.

Chair's troubled history

Florida's new electric chair used electrical equipment from the previous chair, named "Old Sparky"

Davis' execution was the first in Florida's new wooden electric chair. It replaced the chair nicknamed "Old Sparky," which had been built by inmates in 1923. The oak framework of the three-legged chair is new, the electrical apparatus is not.

Use of the old chair was challenged because of the 1997 execution of Pedro Medina, when foot-long flames shot from his head. It was the second such incident in 10 years. The state blamed sponges applied to his head during the electrocution.

That older chair was returned to use a year later after state courts dismissed legal challenges that its use was cruel and unusual punishment.

Next condemned man wins postponement

Critics demanded a moratorium on executions after Thursday's bloody spectacle.

"There are other ways to protect people in the state of Florida without resorting to this barbaric kind of botched executions," said Howard Simon of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Davis' bloody execution gave Florida's next condemned man grounds for a legal challenge.

Lawyers for Thomas Provenzano, who was scheduled to die Friday, won a postponement from the state Supreme Court after arguing that Davis' execution demonstrated the electric chair still does not work properly.

Provenzano, 50, was convicted of a 1984 courthouse shooting that killed a bailiff and paralyzed two court officers. His execution was stayed until September 14.

Correspondent Pat Neal, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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