A lawless town asks the state governor to pardon an imprisoned gunfighter in order to hire him as sheriff but various factions plan to kill the new sheriff and take over the town.
The townsfolk are set on lynching an accused killer held in the town lockup. But US Marshal Johnny Reno stands in their way.
Johnny Stiletto, crime godfather, decides to go straight so his beautiful daughter will be accepted by her boyfriend's wealthy society family. But Stiletto's mob, their rival gang and the boyfriend's money-grubbing family have other ideas.