A sheriff's deputy is murdered and "Lightning" Bill Carson arrives in town to investigate. He learns from an old pal, Tom Rand, that Rand's brother, The Pecos Kid, has been framed for the killing. Before Carson can prove his innocence, the corrupt sheriff and a lynch mob hang the boy. It is not long before Carson is back in town to track down the mysterious killer.
Tim McCoy was a superstar of cowboy films In the '20s and '30s, appearing in scores of early Westerns for M.G.M. and smaller studios. He was an expert horseman, roper and a sharpshooter, renowned for his fast draw. After serving as an officer in World War II he returned to Hollywood to star in The Rough Riders series with Buck Jones and Raymond Hatton. Lightnin' Bill Carson is the first of a series of eight films in which he portrayed the tough, straight-shooting lawman.