Appalachian Murder, Mystery And Legend · Larry Bentley

3X The Man Behind The Gun

·25 min

This episode of Appalachian Murder, Mystery and Legend investigates the unsolved 1930 New York City killings by a cryptic figure who called himself "3X." Host Larry Bentley, an Appalachian native, narrates this historical true crime story from his distinctive perspective. The episode delves into a brief but terrifying summer spree that gripped the city in fear before the era of more famous serial killers. The first attack occurred on June 11, 1930, on a lovers' lane in Queens, where grocery store owner Joseph Mosinski was shot and killed. His teenage companion, Catherine May, was assaulted but not murdered by the German-accented assailant. The killer left a note with the code "3X3-X-097" and forced May onto a bus before fleeing. Days later, on June 16, the killer shot radio mechanic Noel Sully on another lovers' lane in Floral Park, again sparing his girlfriend, Betty Ring. Ballistics confirmed the same gun was used in both murders. The killer, 3X, began sending taunting, coded letters to newspapers and police, claiming to be an agent of a secret international order called the Red Diamond of Russia. He demanded the return of stolen documents and threatened more killings, even mailing spent shell casings to investigators. After a promised attack on June 18 failed to materialize despite a massive police mobilization, a final letter declared his mission over and that he was leaving for Russia. One surprising claim is that the Red Diamond of Russia likely never existed, making 3X's elaborate backstory a probable fabrication. The host proposes an alternative theory: that Catherine May herself might have orchestrated Mosinski's murder with a mob-connected boyfriend. Bentley notes the second letter exonerating May was written on stationery from her workplace and arrived while she was in police custody. He suggests the Sully murder could have been staged to validate the 3X persona and divert suspicion from May. The killer's habit of escorting his female witnesses to bus stops and releasing them unharmed is presented as highly unusual for a classic serial killer profile. The case sparked lasting panic, with later crimes like the Lindbergh kidnapping and the unsolved 1937 "Red Circle" slayings being falsely linked to 3X by a terrified public. The tone is conversational and folksy, delivered with a strong Appalachian narrative style and dry humor. Bentley's storytelling is educational but leans into speculative analysis, examining the facts through a colorful, opinionated lens. True crime fans interested in obscure, pre-Zodiac serial killer cases will find this episode compelling. Listeners who prefer strictly factual reporting without the host's personal theories might find the alternative speculation less appealing.

As heard by us

A vivid murder story built around two killings, a witness, and a single stubborn clue.

The episode follows a case in which two men are shot, a witness receives a note marked "3X," and suspicion settles around the gunman. Ballistics stay central throughout, with the detail that the bullets in both killings came from the same weapon made plain and easy to track.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for an Appalachian murder story where a flashlight, a revolver, and a strange 3X note keep circling the case.

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