# File rexml/element.rb, line 1063
  def get_attribute( name )
			attr = fetch( name, nil )
			if attr.nil?
				return nil if name.nil?
				# Look for prefix
				name =~ Namespace::NAMESPLIT
				prefix, n = $1, $2
				if prefix
					attr = fetch( n, nil )
					# check prefix
					if attr == nil
					elsif attr.kind_of? Attribute
						return attr if prefix == attr.prefix
					else
						attr = attr[ prefix ]
						return attr
					end
				end
				if @element.document and @element.document.doc_type
					expn = @element.expanded_name
					expn = @element.document.doc_type.name if expn.size == 0
					attr_val = @element.document.doc_type.attribute_of(expn, name)
					return Attribute.new( name, attr_val ) if attr_val
				end
				return nil
			end
			if attr.kind_of? Hash
				attr = attr[ @element.prefix ]
			end
			return attr
		end