 At a Sunday church service in mid @-@ December , in what Marshall believed was an attempt by other officials to force him to assume the presidency , a courier brought a message informing him that Wilson had died . Marshall was shocked , and rose to announce the news to the congregation . The ministers held a prayer , the congregation began singing hymns , and many people wept . Marshall and his wife exited the building , and made a call to the White House to determine his next course of action , only to find that he had been the victim of a hoax , and that Wilson was still living . 
