The Lawless Nineties is a 1936 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring John Wayne and Lane Chandler as federal agents in Wyoming.

Undercover federal agents John Tipton and Bridger head for Crocket City, which is a source of much of the criminal activity.

Tipton encounters Major Carter, his daughter Janet, and their servant Moses, who have fallen behind their wagon train of settlers on the way to Crocket City.

Local businessman Charles Plummer warns Carter that making to much noise could be dangerous, as that is what led to the previous editor of the newspaper getting killed.

When Bridger sends a coded message to the government requesting more help, Plummer and two associates listen in on a secret telegraph line.

Surmising that a coded message would only be sent by a government agent, they watch the telegraph office, and when Bridger leaves, Plummer sends two men to follow and then kill him.

When they hold up the shipment's escort they are caught by Tipton, who has arranged for a fake message to trap them, and his men.Steele, who has been watching from the trees, rides back to tell Plummer.