The Ninth Ward Building Association met, as usual, at J.B. Hawks Saloon, 12th and Russell Streets in Covington, Kentucky, for the group's annual meeting on Tuesday, March 5th, 1918. The evening included both the collection of annual dues and the election of officers. After the meeting, the six members of the association's board of

directors gathered in the rear room for an executive session. Joseph Hermes, secretary, said that

$2,467.85 had been collected, mostly in small bills, and placed in a box by his side on the

round table as the men took their seats.

Just as President Andrew Nordmeier, owner of the Hippodrome Theater at Pike and Washington,

began to call the meeting to order. The side door leading to 12th Street blew open and three

men leaped into the room. The men looked strangely the same,

all about the same height,

all wearing similar caps.

They were unmasked,

and two of them held a gun in each hand,

leveled at the gathered men.

The third man, who held but one pistol,

stepped toward the cash box.

Throw up your hands and give him the cash, he demanded.

83-year-old John Ream, treasurer of the association and a shoemaker by trade, snatched the box containing the cash and

slipped it under the table. The leader of the bandits fired, and the old man fell forward

on the table, a bullet in his head.

Pandemonium erupted in the room as the other directors either tried to stand up and run or scramble under the table while the three bandits started shooting.

President Nordmeier shot through the head, fell into the arms of his son Frank.

Chief of Police Clumper, a member of the association, was in the front room when the shooting

began.

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