CubaPLUS Magazine

With the name Alberto Yarini Ponce de León, the character was born on February 5, 1882 in the neighborhood of San Isidro, Havana, a boy who later became a character in the underworld of vice and prostitution, crafty and seductive like few others.

With an ambition unlimited that, according to some, if he had not been assassinated on November 22, 1910, he would possibly have reached the presidential chair in a country where corruption was gaining ground every day.

Whoever passed into urban legend as &The King of San Isidro" or simply Yarini, added to the rosary of his personal characteristics certainly that of having a great personal charisma, the ease of assuming leadership wherever he went, loving danger, which was fatal for his destiny.

Enjoying life and manipulating his peers predominated as the essential goal of his actions, as part of a superficial and cruel personality, where elementary values were absent. He came from a wealthy family headed by his father, Cirilo Yarini Ponce de León, a dental surgeon, founding member of the Society of Dentistry and full professor at the School of Dental Surgery of the University of Havana

They say that he was very gallant with the ladies, especially courteous and refined, a behavior that he knew how to change in San Isidro when he rubbed shoulders face to face with the underworld and the neighborhood thugs, something that fascinated him.

There he was "the handsome one", the boss and he commanded respect. Such a person had friends, admirers, and enemies galore. Although he almost always preferred to show himself in the most sympathetic image of himself, he committed very violent acts and practiced multiple misdeeds with heinous methods.  A friend of whites and blacks, poor and rich, he never denied his privileged class, although many considered him a benefactor of the poor and of the prostitutes he exploited, such was his wicked charm and seduction when he was in a good mood.

A whole man" some of his poor never-do-well friends and even good people used to say of him. Yarini was not forgiven by the French pimp Luis Letot when he kidnapped from under his nose the most precious girl of his latest shipment of prostitutes who landed in Havana, little Berthe, who was gorgeous. The King humiliated and provoked Letot repeatedly, as well as picking up the girl.

Days later, the two thugs shot each other to death, with the participation of cronies from both sides. The thug war in the neighborhood lasted some three years, until it was closed by government decree.