The reason it was a monkey is based on this old Hartlepool myth! from AI; The Hartlepool Monkey Hanging is a famous piece of local folklore from Hartlepool, England, which claims that during the Napoleonic Wars (early 19th century), the townspeople hanged a monkey they mistook for a French spy. According to the legend, a French ship was wrecked in a storm off the coast. The only survivor was the ship's pet monkey, dressed in a miniature military uniform to amuse the crew. Having never seen a monkey or a Frenchman before, the locals believed the uniformed animal was an enemy invader. After an impromptu trial where the monkey failed to answer questions in English (responding only with screeches), it was found guilty of espionage and hanged on the beach. This story is the origin of the nickname "Monkey Hangers," a term used to describe people from Hartlepool. While historically unverified and likely apocryphal, the tale has become a central part of the town's identity
