By Bill
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Bouvier (1914)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
or BY BILL WITHOUT WRIT. of by original writ. 1 Archb. Pr. pp. 2, 337' 5 Hill (N. Y.) 213. They were later used to denote actions commenced, by capias.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Actions commenced by capias instead of by original writ were said to be by bill. 3 Bla. Com. 285, 2S6. See Harkness v. Harkness, 5 Hill (N. Y.) 213. The usual course of commencing an action In the King's Bench was by a bill of Middlesex. In an action commenced by bill it is not necessary to notice the form or nature of the action; 1 Chit. PI. 283.