Stewie "the fixer" Costello was the go to guy in The Gambino family if you needed anything "sorted." Many rumours circulated about his incredible exploits. Some were fact but the majority were urban myths. The only thing Stewie liked more than his own hype was gambling.

Most days involved playing the numbers, going to the track in the afternoon and ending the evening at a high stakes poker game. Many knew of him and his exploits. Very few knew how he met his demise.

"Unknown male reported shot at The Morrison Hotel. Ambulance on the scene." This was the message recorded by the desk sergeant from the 35th Precinct, The Loop, Chicago. By Midnight updated information showed that Stewie Costello, 52 years old of Michigan Avenue had been shot in the abdomen and found in an alley next to the Morrison Hotel.

Earlier that evening Costello had dined at his favourite restaurant Alexander's Steak House on South Shore. It was his unofficial office and he kept a private booth there. Several men were already there to see him when he walked in that night. One of the men Jimmy "The Dutchman" Schultz ran the "The Big House." It was the biggest and best known casino in all of Illinois.

The Big House was reported to maintain "a free taxi service to and from Chicago's southside. One of the midwest's most lavish gambling emporiums. It was also the racing wire nerve centre of all bookie establishments in the county. It boasted oriental rugs on the floor of the second story, which housed costly mahogany roulette and dice tables.Roughly 125 persons were employed in the place.

At around 9:30 pm Costello had received a telephone call. After a short terse conversation he hung up. Schultz knew who the caller was before Costello mentioned it. Costello had been having a really bad run of luck and was into several "Bookies" for tens of thousands. He motioned for "The Dutchman" to follow him outside.

"Walls have ears!" he said as he confided in his friend the money problems he was having. This wasn't new information Schultz was learning as he had already had several conversations with other debtors. Collectively they had decided something had to be done.

"McKinley wants to see me at The Morrison." he said. Then removing his gun from his holster he handed it to Schultz saying "Keep this for me..... I'll be right back."

The man requesting Costello's presence was none other than Dick McKinley one of the biggest bookies in Chicago. He also happened to be very well connected as his brother was high up in the police, whilst his other brother was a judge. Several weeks earlier McKinley had hosted a "High stakes poker game" at The Morrison Hotel. It had lasted for over 48hrs and when they decided to call it a day Costello had been the biggest loser owing over $250K. When Costello had walked out without even signing an IOU a few of the players became irritated. McKinley had assured the players that Costello was good for it and not to worry and that Costello would ring them within a couple of days to settle up.

Over a week had passed and nobody had received a call. Rumours began to circulate that the game was "rigged" Costello had confided to close friends including Schultz that "a few people had since told him the game was rigged." Schultz had advised his friend to "pay up as no point advertising the fact he had been suckered."

Costello held off paying his debt though, hoping to make the gamblers sweat and maybe take a lesser payoff. The players however were beginning to pressure McKinley since he was the host and had promised them that Costello would make good. McKinley sought help from his friend Jimmy Weismann of Tammany Hall. Weismann, who was also a friend of Costello, began to pressure him to clear up the matter.

     As the weeks passed, the pressure began to get to McKinley who began drinking and threatened Costello for not making good on the debts. On this night , McKinley called Costello from room 349 in the Morrison Hotel where he was registered as George Richards. He requested Costello to come over immediately to sort this outstanding matter once and for all.

     The conversation and events that took place after Costello arrived are still a mystery. Shortly after Costello entered room 349, he was shot once in the lower abdomen. The revolver was then tossed out the window where it bounced off the hood of a parked taxi and landed in the street. Employees later found Costello walking down the service stairs, holding his stomach and asking for a cab to take him home.

     A police officer soon arrived, summoned an ambulance, and Costello was taken to Cook County Hospital where he was quickly operated on. The bullet, which was removed, had entered just above the groin and travelled in a  downward trajectory severing an artery. Costello had sustained tremendous internal bleeding. When he left the operating room, he was in a coma.

     Costello's two brothers, Frank and Eddie, were summoned to the hospital along with Stewie’s long suffering wife, Kate. Costello was given a blood transfusion and morphine for his pain. He regained consciousness the next morning and told his wife he wanted to go home. During the day, Costello signed a will prepared by his attorney and talked with several friends. When questioned by police as to who shot him, he replied, "I’ll take care of it myself."

Later on that afternoon, Kate was permitted to see him again. He repeated his request to go home and told her, "Don’t go away. I don’t want to be alone. I can’t stand being alone." As he tried to raise himself he fell back and into unconsciousness. Costello would not regain consciousness and died the following morning at approximately 10:20, Election Day, 

     Costello had bet heavily on the election that year. Had he lived, he would have collected $570,000. His death negated the wagers.