The accusation against Verres is not for crucifying the man, but for crucifying the Roman.

It is on this occasion that Cicero uses the words which have become proverbial as to the iniquity of this proceeding.[129] During the telling of this story he explains this doctrine, claiming for the Roman citizen, all the world over, some such protection as freemasons are supposed to give each other, whether known or unknown.
"Men of straw," he says, "of no special birth, go about the world.

They resort to places they have never seen before, where they know none, and none know them.

Here, trusting to their claim solely, they feel themselves to be safe--not only where our magistrates are to be found, who are bound both by law and by opinion, not only among other Roman citizens who speak their language and follow the same customs, but abroad, over the whole world, they find this to be sufficient protection."[130] Then he goes on to say that if any Praetor may at his will put aside this sanctity, all the provinces, all the kingdoms, all the free states, all the world abroad, will very soon lose the feeling.
But the most remarkable story is that told of a certain pirate captain.
Verres had been remiss in regard to the pirates--very cowardly, indeed, if we are to believe Cicero.

Piracy in the Mediterranean was at that time a terrible drawback to trade--that piracy that a year or two afterward Pompey was effectual in destroying.