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; 109 Gal. 448; 183 Mich. 207.

Upon such presentment, when proper, the officer employed to prosecute afterwards frames a bill of indictment, which is then sent to the grand jury, and they find it to be a true bill. In an extended sense, presentments include not only what are properly so called, but also inquisitions of office and indictments found by a grand jury.

2 Hawk. P. C. c. 25, § 1.

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 a particular offense.

2 Hawk. P. C. c. 25, § 6.

See, generally, Comyn, Dig. "Indictment" (B); Bac. Abr. "Indictment" (A); 1 Chit. Crim. Law, 163; 7 East, 387; 1 Meigs (Tenn.) 112; 11 Humph. (Tenn.) The chief distinctipn between an indictment and a presentment at common law was that the former was made at the suggestion of the crown, while the latter was made upon the knowledge of one or more of the jurors, and instead of being indorsed "a true bill" by the foreman alone, was signed by all of the jurors. The writing which contains the accusation so presented by a grand jury.

1 Brock. In Contracts.

The production of a _ bill of exchange or promissory note to the party on whom the former is drawn, for