Pierre Schützenberger (1888–1973) : un aliéniste, expert dans l’affaire des sœurs Papin (Partie II)

Abstract

Originally from an ancient Protestant family of the Alsace area, that has produced renowned Scientists and Artists over the past centuries, the name of Pierre Schützenberger (1879–1973) remains associated with the case of the Papin sisters where he was appointed expert along with Victor Truelle (1871–1938) and Jacques Baruk (1872–1975). Appointed to the Seine Asylum competition in 1924, Schützenberger persued his career in various provincial Asylums or Psychiatric Hospitals: Pontorson (1925–1929), Le Mans (1933–1934), La Charité-sur-Loire (1930–1932), Blois (1935–1943), Moulin-Izeure (1944–1945). During the German occupation, he was sentenced and imprisoned in the military jails of Orléans and Blois for 45 days. He had hidden some sanitary equipment to the Germans. During the German occupation, he was considered as anti-German then he sentenced by national unworthiness (in September, 1945–in May, 1949) at the Liberation. Maurice Lecomte was his colleague at Blois’ Hospital. He has qualified him to be anti-Jewish. It was a false charge among others, which was only an alibi for a settling of accounts against Schützenberger. Charles Galperin is the living witness of his rescue of Jewish child during the German occupation by Schützenberger. In April 1946, he opened an independent medical practice for children with psychological and/or social disorders in Martangy near Nolay (1946–1948). Then, he moved to Vaureal (Val-d’Oise). From 1949 to 1957, he was doctor in the medical-psychological service for child and adolescent in the hospital of Ravenel (1949–1957) who has obtained a reduced sentence. Schützenberger was an expert in the courts and a member of the Clinical Society of Mental Health (1924), of the Le Mans Clinical Society (1933), of the Medical-Psychological Society (1934) and of the Forensic Society (1937). Schützenberger completed a few publications and annual moral and administrative reports. Schützenberger appears to us more like a Psychiatrist concerned with professional interests and institutional organisation than a clinical Psychiatrist.