Help me write the below excerpt in Plain English.

The declaration stated, that the plaintiff theretofore, and at the time of the committing of the grievances thereinafter mentioned, to wit, on, etc, was lawfully possessed of a certain donkey, which said donkey of the plaintiff was then lawfully in a certain highway; and the defendant was then possessed of a certain wagon and of certain horses drawing the same, which said wagon and horses of the defendants were then under the care, government and direction of a certain then servant of the defendant, in and along the said highway; nevertheless the defendant then ran and struck with great violence against the said donkey of the plaintiff and thereby then wounded, crushed and killed the same.