CLOTHES FOR ESCAPER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 4

CLOTHES FOR ESCAPER

Girl Sacked By Bakery (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) SYDNEY, November 19. Buying clothes for a Sydney gaol escaper has cost an attractive 23-year-old clerk her job. Patricia Reynolds is a family friend of Kevin Simmonds, whose escape from Long Bay gaol recently touched off the biggest manhunt in Australian history. Simmonds, recaptured on Sunday, has been charged with the murder of a warder.

Today Miss Reynolds told reporters that visiting Simmo.nds with clothes she had bought had got her sacked from the bakery firm where she was working.

She said that after she was photographed visiting Simmonds, she rang her boss to explain. “I told him the detectives had asked me to get Kevin some clean clothes to wear in Court. Kevin has been like a big brother to me and my brother for 12 years.

“The boss said no explanation was necessary, and it would be better if I didn’t come back. He said: ‘You would be only a novelty to the girls in the office now.’ ’’

•A senior detective immediately telephoned the managing director of the firm, and told him Miss Reynolds had bought the clothes at the request of the police, and had not sought publicity.

Sydney newspapers said the 24 girls at the firm had been asked <to vote on whether they wanted to continue working with Miss Reynolds, and 21 voted “No.”

Miss Reynolds had not been taken back.