Everybody knows somebody who knows something about Frank Costello. At least, that is the way TIME Reporter James A. Bell felt during his long investigation of the gambler and underworld figure who is the subject of this week's cover story. Bell'sand TIME'Sjob was to try to separate the facts from the Costello legend and get behind the hitherto published material on Costello.
Jim Bell had his first look at some of Costello's operations (slot machines and Louisiana's Beverly Country Club) while working on TIME'S cover story on New Orleans' Mayor "Chep" Morrison in November,...