NEW YORK — The current anthrax scare has thousands of investigators working overtime to find answers leading to the culprits behind tainted letters sent through the U.S. mail system.

Some of those investigators are turning to handwriting analysis to identify clues to who wrote the letters sent to Senator Tom Daschle, NBC anchor Tom Brokaw and an editor at the New York Post.

Is it possible to detect certain personality traits and characteristics of the author(s) who wrote these letters? Or, did they mask their identity by writing the letters in a particular way to divert authorities to look for answers elsewhere?

Bart Baggett, handwriting expert, says he may have the answers that the FBI is looking for on his Handwriting University Web site. Having observed the handwriting based on pictures of the envelopes delivered to Senator Daschle and Tom Brokaw, Baggett says the letters may offer help in understanding the possible mental state of an individual who has brought terror to thousands in the form of white powder.

According to the Baggett's Web site, handwriting analysis is the scientific method of identifying personality traits through strokes and patterns that occur within everyday writing. This is often confused with document examination, which is used in forgery cases and involves strictly identifying the author and not the characteristics of the writer.

Before the FBI released the letters, Baggett released the results of his analysis based strictly on the handwriting on the envelopes.

"The writing appears to be written by the same person," says Baggett on his site. "Without the originals, we can't be 100 percent sure. The writing is slow and intentional." The writer wants to mask his identity and is deeply passionate — heavy writing — and ruled by emotion, not logic."

Shortly after, newspapers and TV news programs across the world released photos of the three letters. Each letter had the date "09-11-01" at the top of the page.

In an interview with Catherine Crier on Court TV's "Crier Live," Baggett spoke on the handwriting analysis of all three letters.

"When you see the letters and the content, you have no question that the same person or group wrote them," Baggett said. "Like the characteristics of prison inmates, this person feels that if they have a need to be in control of every little detail. I can't prove who wrote the letter, but I can guarantee that the person who wrote the letters is both depressed and chemically depressed."

As of the present time, authorities have not linked any of the letters to the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11.

Handwriting University was around before Bart Baggett — who examined the handwriting of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh — became somewhat of a household name due to his expertise. There are several sections dedicated to educating the public about what penmanship reveals about people's personalities.

Ask Sherlock is a five-minute quiz that asks you a series of questions about characteristics of certain letters written in script. Sherlock requests is that you pay attention to the sizes, shapes, slants and strokes of your letters in order to get the most accurate results. Submit your answers and receive an email response in moments.

Baggett makes it easy for interested parties to access a monthly newsletter, take a teleconference class or attend a live seminar. Several sections are dedicated to a glossary of terms for handwriting traits, including, Five Hell Traits Found in Handwriting, an excerpt from Baggett's book, The Secrets to Making Love Happen.

A link to an interpretation of Osama bin Laden's handwriting by another analyst, Anna Koren, who specializes in European and Middle Eastern writings, is also on Baggett's site.

During his interview on "Crier Live," Baggett said that Osama bin Laden's writing sample contain, "a signature that shows ego maniacal behavior. He is not a genius, but very capable."

Baggett added how handwriting analysis would be helpful in assisting with the anthrax letter investigations.

"This could help the FBI when looking at a profile. Whoever wrote the letters is angry and depressed," Baggett added. "They have the profile of being angry at the world."

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