The wall crime scene where Pamela's body was found in January 1937.
The above grainy photograph appeared in several China-based English language newspapers within days of the murder. Pamela's body was found lying face-up in the ditch shown, her feet toward the camera. The Legation Quarter is indiscernible in the far distance. The dirt-track wall road is to the right. Pamela's home stands some 250 yards behind the camera. What look like telegraph poles were probably disused lamp or banner holders. The image shows just how isolated the spot was.
The above grainy photograph appeared in several China-based English language newspapers within days of the murder. Pamela's body was found lying face-up in the ditch shown, her feet toward the camera. The Legation Quarter is indiscernible in the far distance. The dirt-track wall road is to the right. Pamela's home stands some 250 yards behind the camera. What look like telegraph poles were probably disused lamp or banner holders. The image shows just how isolated the spot was.
Above is a better quality image showing a different yet similar location on one of Peking's walls. Again a ditch features, the origins of which are unclear - possibly some crude form of drainage.
Very sadly nearly all of Peking's medieval walls were demolished in the 1960s, a great loss to modern Beijing.
Very sadly nearly all of Peking's medieval walls were demolished in the 1960s, a great loss to modern Beijing.
Above: the crime scene as seen in 2018. The ditch has long gone. The precise spot is now impossible to identify, but by a combination of old and new maps, satellite images, and sketches by Werner, coupled with features on the wall's far side, it's possible to locate the scene to within about 50 meters.
By chance the above length of the city wall was one of the very few stretches that escaped demolition. Landscaped with a path and trees for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it appears now to be being developed further into a park-come-wall-walk. It may soon be fully open to the public.
By chance the above length of the city wall was one of the very few stretches that escaped demolition. Landscaped with a path and trees for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it appears now to be being developed further into a park-come-wall-walk. It may soon be fully open to the public.
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