Right click on the email then click Delete in the drop down menu that appears

It has been a while since I used OE so I ask:

Do you have the preview pane turned off?

DA

right clicking still opens the e-mail

preview pane has a check next to it

If I feel an e-mail might be dangerous there must be a way to delete it without opening it?

I handle that problem by highlighting the message above the one in question, hold down the shift key and highlight the one below. Then delete all three. If one I deleted is one I want to keep, I go to the deleted file, drag it back into the inbox. Then I wait till there are several in the delete folder, highlight all, and finally delete all.

Is it possible you have reset the mouse buttons? Right click usually brings up a small menu window. In the case of IE you have options including delete and Properties, clicking Properties then Details followed by Message source gives one the opportunity to read the email by using the back door so to speak. It does not open the email going this route.

I've never uses Outlook Express but if there's a check next to preview pane that means it's turned on. Uncheck it and you should be able to highlight a message without opening it. You would have to double click on it to open it.

Thank you all for helping me, I did uncheck preview pane and that is what I was looking for. I now can delete it without opening it.Right clicking on it works also, thanks again, Michael