Presentment

In criminal practice. The written notice taken by a grand jury of any offense, from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of indictment laid before them at the suit of the government 4 Bl. Comm. 301. A presentment is an informal statement in writing, by the grand jury, representing to the court that a publlc offense has been committed which is triable in the county, and that there is reasonable ground for believing that a particular individual named or described therein has committed it.

Pen. Code Cal. § 916. And see In re Grosbois, 109 Cal. 445, 42 Pac. 444; Com. v. Green, 126 Pa. 531, 17 Atl. 878, 12 Am. St. Rep. 894; Mack v. Pcople, 82 N. Y. 237; Eason v. State, 11 Ark. 482; State v. Kiefer, 90 Md. 165, 44 Atl. 1043.

In its limited sense, a presentment is a statement by the grand jury of an offense from their own knowledge, without any bill of indictment laid before them, setting forth the name of the party, place of abode, and the offense committed, informally, upon which the officer of the court afterwards frames an indictment.

Collins v. State, 13 Fla. 651, 663.

The difference between a presentment and an inquisition is this: that the former is found by a grand jury authorized to inquire of offenses generally, whereas the latter is an accusation found by a jury specially returned to inquire concerning the particular offense.

2 Hawk. P. C. c. 25, § 6.

The writing which contains the accusation so presented by a grand Jury is also called a "presentment" Presentments are also made in ceurts-leet and courts-baron, before the stewards.

Steph. Comm. 644.

In contracts. The production of a bill of exchange to the drawee for his acceptance, or to the drawer or acceptor for payment; or of a promissory note to the party liable, for payment of the same.