Dolabella

6. Cn. Cornelius Dolabella, was praetor urbanus, in B. C. 81, when the cause of P. Quintius was tried. Cicero charges him with having acted on that occasion unjustly and against all established usages. The year after he had Cilicia for his province, and C. Malleolus was his quaestor, and the notorious Verres his legate. Dolabella not only tolerated the extortions and robberies committed by them, but shared in their booty. He was especially indulgent towards Verres, and, after Malleolus was murdered, he made Verres his proquaestor. After his return to Rome, Dolabella was accused by M. Aemilius Scaurus of extortion in his province, and on that occasion Verres not only deserted his accomplice, but furnished the accuser with all the necessary information, and even spoke himself publicly against Dolabella. Many of the crimes committed by Verres himself were thus put to the account of Dolabella, who was therefore condemned. He went into exile, and left his wife and children behind him in great poverty. (Cic. pro Quint. 2, 8; in Verr. 1.4, 15, 17, 29; Ascon. in Cornel. p. 110, ed. Orelli, who however confounds him with No. 5.)