Administration may be granted to one or more competent persons, although not entitled to the same, at the written request of the person entitled, filed in the court. When the person entitled is a nonresident of the state, affidavits or depositions taken ex parte before any officer authorized by the laws of this state to take acknowledgments and administer oaths out of this state, may be received as prima facie evidence of the identity of the party, if free from suspicion, and the fact is established to the satisfaction of the court.