658. About the passion for stealing
Those who in their bodily life had coveted the possessions of others and [sought to obtain them] by various tricks, either business dealings or other means which they justified before men as allowable, in the other life go about and continually seek to take away the goods of others. When they approach spirits like themselves, or different, those spirits recognize their character at once, and with a fine or a lashing, throw them out. So they wander about, seeking, and wherever they go they are punished by whippings or other methods. Spirits like these have come to me several times, complaining, and I learned that they had been businessmen - even, to my surprise, well-known ones.