 Halotus ( c . 20 – 30 AD – c . 70 – 80 AD ) was a servant to the Roman Emperor Claudius , the fourth member of the Julio @-@ Claudian dynasty . He served Claudius as a taster and as a chief steward ; it was because of his occupation , which entailed close contact with Claudius , that he is and was a suspect in the murder of the latter by poison . Along with Agrippina the Younger , the wife of Claudius , Halotus was considered one of the most likely to have committed the murder , although speculation by ancient historians suggest that he may have been working under orders of Agrippina . 
