Read the entire Feb. 7, 1863, edition of the Los Angeles Star from the Huntington Library, scanned by USC.
Feb. 7 1863: The coroner holds an inquest in the killing of Christian Hutt. George Wright, the father of accused killer Reason Wright, said Hutt began shooting when he was “geeing” the plow oxen to get out of his way. “Gee” is the word used to tell oxen, mules, etc., to turn to the right. “Haw” means to turn to the left.
The newly created Board of Health reports on the smallpox cases in Los Angeles. Inspectors found a total of 128 cases of smallpox, found 170 people who had not been vaccinated and vaccinated 146 people.
Mr. Mott, Allen and Hubbard competed against Mr. Vandenburg, Phillips and Wiley in a pigeon shoot south of town. And yes, they were using real pigeons, not clay targets.
In an editorial, The Star says that the state Legislature is corrupt.
ladailymirror.com 
Thanks, L.A. Daily Mirror:
This is good stuff.
1. A little education e.g. Gee Haw!
2.How they finally figured out that they were going to run out of real pigeons if they didn’t use the clay substitutes.
And…
3.The “same old same old” The realization that the Legislature was corrupt! So, what has changed?
4. Small Pox was a serious health problem in the U.S. in1863. Today, we wonder how many people in the U.S. know what it is?
LikeLike
My husband and I were discussing “gee” and “haw” (which being which) just this weekend. Thank you for providing the information so serendipitously!
LikeLike