I had heard that the reason for the hanging was to ensure there were no survivors on the ship so the locals could claim the salvage.

Probably urban myth or a defence given out by the fair burghers of Hartlepool to explain away their actions in hanging a monkey.

As for it being a bit of shame, didn't the Hartlepudlians elect, for their mayor a bloke dressed in an ape suit claiming his name was Monkey H Angus?

Unlike the Ruardean Bear, but that's another story, and one which can still end in violence (apologies for the thread creep).

Steve.