The murder of Pamela Werner in 1937 remains one of the most haunting mysteries of the 20th century. British author Paul French, in his gripping book “Midnight in Peking,” delves deep into the enigmatic world of old Peking and uncovers a hidden trail of intrigue, vice, and desperation that shrouded the young woman’s brutal death. In this article, we explore the unsettling backdrop of Peking’s Badlands, where Pamela’s tragic fate ultimately unfolded.
Father: ETC Werner The Diplomat and Sinologist
Edward Theodore Chalmers Werner, known as E.T.C. Werner, led a remarkable life as a British diplomat in Qing Dynasty China and as a dedicated sinologist specializing in superstition, myths, and magic in China. Born in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1864 to a Prussian father and English mother, he embarked on a career that took him from the Far East to diplomatic postings across China. His contributions to sinology and his intriguing personal life, intertwined with tragedy, continue to captivate.
Werner’s diplomatic journey began when he arrived in Peking (now Beijing) in the 1880s as a student interpreter attached to the British Legation. Over the years, he served in various consular positions across China, including Canton (Guangzhou), Tientsin (Tianjin), Macao, Hangchow (Hangzhou), Kiungchow (Qiongshan) on Hainan Island, Pakhoi (Beihai) on the Gulf of Tonkin, and Kongmoon (Jiangmen). In 1911, he assumed the role of British Consul-General in Foochow (Fuzhou). His service in the British consular service in China lasted until 1914.
After retiring from the diplomatic service, E.T.C. Werner returned to Peking, where he devoted himself to sinological studies. His contributions included involvement in the planning committee of the Peking Union Medical College, lecturing at Peking University, membership in the Chinese government’s Historiography Bureau, and being a member of the Royal Asiatic Society.
In 1911, E.T.C. Werner married Gladys Nina Ravenshaw, the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Withers Ravenshaw, the former British Resident in Nepal. In 1919, the couple adopted a baby girl while living in Peking. That child, was Pamela Werner.
Peking’s Badlands: A Den of Iniquity
In the 1930s, nestled between the grand European-style Legation Quarter and the colossal wall guarding the old Imperial City, lay a sinister neighborhood known as the Badlands. A confluence of stateless White Russians, destitute wanderers, and petty foreign criminals, this shadowy enclave emerged from what was once open land used for military drills and horse exercises.
Characterized by a mere handful of narrow alleyways or hutongs, the Badlands was a hotbed of debauchery, criminality, and lawlessness. It may not have rivaled its infamous counterpart in Shanghai, but its malevolence was undeniable. Brothels, bars, opium dens, cheap eateries, and flophouses populated the Badlands, forming a breeding ground for vice and illicit activity.
Pamela Werner: A Tragic Connection
Amid this chaos and degradation, Pamela Werner, a young and adventurous soul, found herself immersed in a world far removed from the genteel upbringing she might have envisioned. Fluent in Chinese and eager to explore, Pamela was known for her blond hair and gray eyes, which made her stand out in the streets of Peking.
The paths that led her to the Badlands, whether driven by youthful curiosity or the allure of adventure, would ultimately intersect with the darker elements of this district. Pamela’s association with the denizens of this underworld would have devastating consequences, leading to her gruesome and unsolved murder.
Paul French’s “Midnight in Peking” brilliantly unravels the mystery of Pamela Werner’s murder by shedding light on the underbelly of Peking’s Badlands. Within this depraved district, a diverse array of characters, each with their own troubled pasts, crossed paths with the young victim, ultimately setting the stage for a tragedy that remains unsolved to this day.
As we delve deeper into the chilling details of Pamela’s story, we are reminded of the profound impact that environment and circumstance can have on the lives of individuals. Pamela’s tale serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of mystery and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of darkness.