The Real Estate Agent Who Thought He Was a Millionaire
George M. Armour’s hallucinations of vast wealth led to his institutionalization and the appointment of his brother as guardian.
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WEALTH ALL IMAGINARY.
Ma Armour's Hallucinations of Great Wealth.
George M. Armour was yesterday appointed by Judge Uchtenberg to act as guardian for his brother, John Armour, who was recently committed to the insane asylum at Steilacoom.
Mr. Armour, who was a real estate agent, suffered from hallucinations and imagined himself one of the financial magnates of the world, believing that his great schemes would accomplish wonders. But the evidence shows that his estate was only worth about $1,000, and George Armour was required to give a $2,000 bond before he was permitted to administer on the estate.
In an era when real estate speculation in Seattle was running hot, this case highlights the thin line between ambitious development and mental collapse. It serves as a grim reminder of how quickly financial delusion could consume individuals during the city's rapid growth periods, leading to legal interventions that would be handled by modern psychiatric evaluations rather than court-appointed guardianships based on 'hallucinations.'
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