code: public static Element search(final Element root, final String elementName, final String idAttributeName, final String id) {
  		Element element = null;
  		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  		List<Element> children = root.getChildren();
  		for (Element e : children) {
  			if (elementName == null || e.getName().equals(elementName)) {
  				Attribute a = e.getAttribute(idAttributeName);
  				if (a != null && id.equals(a.getValue())) {
  					element = e;
  				} else {
  					element = search(e, elementName, idAttributeName, id);
  				}
  			}
  			if (element != null) {
  				break;
  			}
  		}
  		return element;
  	}
docs: Searches the ElementBaum starting with the given element for the ChildElement with the
  respective attribute value
  
  @return the matching element