Eugen Weidmann, a German national, became notorious in France for a series of violent crimes, including the murder of an elderly woman and kidnapping, which led to the deaths of several individuals. His trial captured public attention due to the heinous nature of his actions and the graphic details that emerged during the proceedings. The authorities determined that a public execution would demonstrate the state's commitment to law and order, reinforcing societal norms against violent crime. Weidmann was subsequently sentenced to death by guillotine. On June 17, 1939, a large crowd gathered outside Saint-Pierre prison in Versailles to witness the execution, which was one of the last public executions in France. The event was heavily covered by the media, reflecting the public's fascination with crime and punishment at the time. The guillotine, a symbol of the French Revolution, had been in use for decades but was increasingly seen as an outdated form of capital punishment. As the thrill of public executions waned and the moral implications of such spectacles were debated, the French government would eventually abolish public executions altogether.